Process disrupted: ‘Strike on Mehsud made with mala fide intent’
JUI-F chief Fazl cautions against individual party action in the aftermath.
Responding to a question on Imran Khan’s offer to bury the hatchet, JUI-F chief insisted he had no personal quarrel with him. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said killing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief in a US drone strike has brought talks to a standstill. However, Fazl added, engagement for peace will be pursued.
At a membership drive at the party’s provincial headquarters on Tuesday, Fazl lauded the federal government’s efforts to establish negotiations following the all-parties conference (APC). Various attacks over the past few months in the province dragged down the peace process; there was a lobby in the country against the talks, claimed Fazl. Now the break in pace has come from the Taliban side after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, something which has dented the Taliban’s trust, he added. According to Fazl, the attack on Mehsud was made with mala fide intent.
Yet efforts will continue – it has been decided, in principle, to not allow the peace process to be further derailed, said the JUI-F chief. He made these comments a day after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the centre stop Nato supplies by November 20 or else K-P will be independent to pursue its own course of action.
Flights of fancy?
The JUI-F chief also cautioned against “solo flights” by political parties in the aftermath of Mehsud’s death.
Responding to a question about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) efforts to block Nato supplies in K-P, Fazl stated all parties should avoid individual action as it is likely to damage national consensus.
Previously the PTI government had scrapped a resolution against drone attacks after the opposition insisted on the inclusion of Nato supplies, but, Fazl continued, now the PTI wants ownership of the issue, which is not right.
The draft of the K-P Assembly’s resolution is based on a JUI-F draft, which they had submitted in the assembly, he claimed.
Responding to a question on Imran Khan’s offer to bury the hatchet, Fazl insisted he had no personal quarrel with him. His party has some concerns regarding the PTI and if these were removed then they had no problem with Imran, shared the JUI-F chief.
Fazl claimed his party has been the largest religious political force of the country and will continue to play its role in politics.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th,2013.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said killing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief in a US drone strike has brought talks to a standstill. However, Fazl added, engagement for peace will be pursued.
At a membership drive at the party’s provincial headquarters on Tuesday, Fazl lauded the federal government’s efforts to establish negotiations following the all-parties conference (APC). Various attacks over the past few months in the province dragged down the peace process; there was a lobby in the country against the talks, claimed Fazl. Now the break in pace has come from the Taliban side after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, something which has dented the Taliban’s trust, he added. According to Fazl, the attack on Mehsud was made with mala fide intent.
Yet efforts will continue – it has been decided, in principle, to not allow the peace process to be further derailed, said the JUI-F chief. He made these comments a day after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the centre stop Nato supplies by November 20 or else K-P will be independent to pursue its own course of action.
Flights of fancy?
The JUI-F chief also cautioned against “solo flights” by political parties in the aftermath of Mehsud’s death.
Responding to a question about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) efforts to block Nato supplies in K-P, Fazl stated all parties should avoid individual action as it is likely to damage national consensus.
Previously the PTI government had scrapped a resolution against drone attacks after the opposition insisted on the inclusion of Nato supplies, but, Fazl continued, now the PTI wants ownership of the issue, which is not right.
The draft of the K-P Assembly’s resolution is based on a JUI-F draft, which they had submitted in the assembly, he claimed.
Responding to a question on Imran Khan’s offer to bury the hatchet, Fazl insisted he had no personal quarrel with him. His party has some concerns regarding the PTI and if these were removed then they had no problem with Imran, shared the JUI-F chief.
Fazl claimed his party has been the largest religious political force of the country and will continue to play its role in politics.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th,2013.